Dumping of refuse is believed to be one of the causes of flooding, in averting this, residents of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital have been urged to desist from dumping refuse on flood planes to avoid disaster in the state.
Engineer Olasunkanmi Sokeye, Project, Coordinator, Ibadan Urban Flood Project Management, IUFMP a world bank intervention projects on flood disaster in Ibadan made this call on Wednesday after a tour to some of the dredged sites.
Sokeye said if residents stop dumping solid waste and creating obstruction on flood planes 90 percent of the flood crisis will stop.
He maintained that through IUFMP, 45 rivers and streams with minimum length of 3kilometer and and maximum of about 1,500 have been dredged to pave way for free flow of water and prevent flood disaster.
He explained that since the fund available was not enough for the execution of all their plans, the state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde intervened by releasing more fund for dredging and channelization of water planes.
Also, Engineer Rufus Iyiola, the Hydraulic Consultant for IUFMP in his remark said though dredging of rivers and streams in Ibadan has been an annual projects of IUFMP because of flash flood the agency also need to be proactive against the forecast of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET which says about 26 states including Oyo will experience flash flood in 2021.
Some of the dredged sites visited included Lasokun Stream, Alafara Stream Ologuneru, Ikolaba stream Ikolaba, Omolayo stream Akobo, Bolajoko Stream Akobo, Odeku, New Garage, Aba Alamu/ Aladie stream Sharp corner, Gbekuba Stream Nihort area among others.
Some of the residents including renowned publisher Agbo Areo commended Governor Seyi Makinde and the IUFMP for their intervention urged them not to relent in their efforts to prevent flood disasters in the state.
Paul Ajayi, a motorcyclist who ply his trade around Kuola Apata road told journalists that prior to government intervention they use to have issues whenever there is heavy rain and since the commencement of the dredging, everything has stopped and we can move freely.
Also Mrs Aderinto Olanike a resident in one of the areas said “anytime it rains we do leave our home, water will submerge the bridge and one will be able to cross to the other side, we do record casualties in the past but now we are happy that the experience is now history we wont have it again because of this development and we thank the Government for its effort.”
